Licensing Law for Beginners: #LX11 Licensing International Expo 2011, Day 1

My day started off with ease, albeit quite early. I made it to the airport safe and when I boarded the plane to head to Las Vegas (Vegas), there were signs to indicate to me that this was going to be a terrific trip. On the plane, I was seated between two employees of the popular candy brand Jelly beans. One of the employees, the one seated to my right was Connie Simoni, Executive Administrative Assistant for Jelly Belly’s Fairfield, California office was also on her way to the Licensing Expo. In her capacity, she has been involved, for 11years now, with the company’s intellectual property matters. Upon arrival in Vegas, I was able to catch the second to the last seminar for the day, “Licensing Law for Beginners.”

When I arrived, I noticed the seminar was taught by Jed Ferdinand, Sam Khare and Andrew Koski. I caught more of the tail end of the seminar. What a fabulous speaker Khare was. Very concise, to the point and organized as he moved from one thought to another. Khare stressed the need for anyone looking to become a licensor to do the leg work.

He stressed it wasn’t about licensing your brand and entering into legal agreements but rather doing the critical leg work. “Your lawyer is only as good as the facts you give,” (to him or her) he stressed to the audience. “Licensing boils down to making money. How do you make the money? Work smarter and understand what it means to be a brand owner” was among the great pieces of advice Khare offered. Right after Khare, Andrew Koski spoke. His focus was on the actual financing terms in a licensing agreement. He talked about: the provisions, the contract consideration, the definition of the terms. He addressed the right to audit, among many terms.

“What did you think about the seminar,” I asked one of the female attendees after the panel finished presenting. “I liked it a lot. I learned a lot,” was her response. I did a little chat with my colleagues who presented and then it was off to interview a “rock star” lawyer colleague of mine. How interview was amazing and I will share with you all the interview and the subsequent party/mixer.

Here’s a gist of the presentation that I placed on twitter earlier today. My twitter handle is @uduaklaw, so be sure to follow if you would like to stay abreast of all the happenings at the conference.

UDUAKLAW Now checking out Licensing Law for Beginners. Talk on patents n licensing. Shoe designers now using patent law 4 protection #LX11

UDUAKLAW Trademark (TM) law defined. Trademark does not give you a monopoly, so don’t get it twisted.#LX11 u don’t have to register trademark

UDUAKLAW Hard to do business in licensing industry if your TM not registered. #LX11

UDUAKLAW TM can be filed with USPTO office. If u intend to use but if u are not ready yet, file an intent to use. LX11

UDUAKLAW Celebrity licensing is BIG since the last 5yrs. Most do not make much money except via mass market but they keep doing it. LX11

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Fashionentlaw™ is the brainchild of Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak), an ex-fashion model and industry veteran turned Fashion and Entertainment lawyer. The law blog discusses hot topics in pop culture arising primarily out of the fashion industry.

As a legal practitioner, Ms. Uduak has seventeen years of experience counseling individuals and businesses within and outside the creative community. She has counseled designers, apparel manufacturers, models, photographers, retailers, graphic designers, musicians, public relations specialists, and athletes, among others, on diverse legal issues including business formation, licensing, trademark and copyright matters, contracts, intellectual property and contract disputes.

To arrange a consultation to discuss your case, contact her today at 916-361-6506 or email (uduak@ebitulawgrp.com).